Where does “Hammelfleesch” come from?
Hammelfleesch (Pennsylvania German) comes from Luxembourgish Hammel, from German Hammel, from Middle High German hamel, from Old High German hamal, from Proto-Germanic hamalaz, from Proto-Indo-European ḱom-olo-, from Proto-Indo-European ḱem- — to cover, conceal; hornless.
Hammelfleesch (Pennsylvania German): mutton
Ancestry of “Hammelfleesch”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Luxembourgish | Hammel | wether, castrated ram |
| 2 | German | Hammel | wether; mutton; jackass |
| 3 | Middle High German | hamel | — |
| 4 | Old High German | hamal | castrated |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | hamalaz | mutilated, truncated |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱom-olo- | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱem- | to cover, conceal; hornless |